The agreement, reached after more than three hours of closed door negotiations between the candidates and their lawyers, was contained in an interim consent order announced by Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge Cynthia Becker, who was called in after local Superior Court judges recused themselves from hearing the case.

Attorneys for both parties said after court they were satisfied with the agreement, but declined to discuss specifics, apparently at the court’s instructions.

“We’re happy with the consent,” St Lawrence said outside the Chatham County Courthouse.

“We’re satisfied,” Holmes attorney Sage Brown said. “The court spent the time and entered an order in the benefit of everybody. We’re still got a campaign to run.”

He was assisted by attorney William Claiborne.

According ot the consent order, both candiates agreed that "the focus of the campaign should and shall be limited to the candidates' respective backgrounds, qualifications, and/or plans for the office ofthe sheriff of Chatham County. To that end, the parties henceforth agree not to reference their opponent."

The order will remain in effect "until further order of the court, but no later than the certification of the election results" in the sheriff's race.

Holmes, who retired from the sheriff’s department last year with the rank of colonel, is running as a Democrat against his former boss, a Republican, in the Nov. 6 general election.

St Lawrence’s lawyer, Steven Scheer, contended in the suit that Holmes continues to use the “official uniform, seal and flag of the Chatham County Sheriff’s office” in direct violation of the law.

The sheriff said his earlier requests that Holmes stop using those symbols have been ignored.

He said the continued use of those symbols “improperly implies the endorsement” of the sheriff’s office in the campaign without approval or endorsement of the sheriff.

The suit asks a judge to immediately issue an order prohibiting Holmes from continued use of the symbols and for civil penalties and damages.